Hermans Alumni

Anyone out there from the SmithHaven Mall store?

I was the athletic footwear co-ordinator at the time of opening.

Gabe Sayeg

That was before my time; Walter Meyer was the shoe man when I was there; I was there for about 6 or 7 years in the '80s, cashier, then camping, hunting and fishing depts...

Mr. Grace came in the night before the store opened. He had his whole traveling group with him. He was really into Herman's. You could tell after he died that things were going to be differrent.

 Gabriel 

Never even saw the man...who was your store manager when it opened? the ones I remember were Tom Peterson, Joe Vuolo and Bill LeRoy...there was quite a turnover.

I don't remember any names - I was from the Jersey side and did not spend a lot of time in NY or LI.

I just remember the drives through from Jersey and how long they were.  

Yeah, very long drive; I remember having to go to Carteret once for some paralyzingly boring camping seminar....

Driving down the NJ Turnpike in the Summer through Carteret and East Rutherford - now that was a "smelling" adventure

 

Gabriel

Ah yes-- I remember the rancid smell, seeing miles of smoking factories, and seeing something on fire. It was like my version of Hell.

I tell people in Wisconsin that unless you drove on the New Jersey Turnpike you've missed something in life - the only place I know where the police travel in two's and they both take their guns out when you get pulled over for speeding

Gabriel

Probably with good reason. The only thing worse is the Long Island Expressway. They put giant walls all along the sides so as not to disturb the suburbanites...ah, Long Island traffic--one reason I moved upstate. The mall where Herman's was has pretty much doubled in size, too, or at least it seems that way; just what L.I. needs, more mall space.  

I just sent you an e-mail - I THINK - not sure if its working

I lost your e-mail address

I am here. And I am pretty sure I remember you....it was a long time ago. I was a student at SB....did time at the Roosevelt Field Store. I can't place her name but it was Donna....and I think you were friends with her. I can't place your department either....maybe you were an assistant manager. You don't remember me, do you? Remmeber Phil Gunther? I am still in touch with him all these years later. All tolled I have about eight years with Hermans. I was kind of sad to see them go. I still have dreams about working there.

 How did it all turn out for you?

Yes, I remember you! Tall guy, brown hair, didn't you have a beard (and were you in the Golf and Tennis Dept.?)  I'm Ginny Mulligan's sister; she was head cashier in SmithHaven and then an assistant mgr. somewhere...I started as a cashier and then went to Camping/Hunting/Fishing with Donna Figari, Joe Doherty, Espo, Jim Towers. Ed...I was there for seven years. I remember Phil Gunther very well, he was a good guy and hilarious. Bob Heino was too. Funny how a bunch of us would go out drinking together once in a while after work. Somewhere I have pictures of some of us at parties and things; I will dig them out and post them one of these days. I had married Dave George (golf dept.) and then we divorced a couple of years later; seems like another lifetime. I wonder how many Herman's marriages lasted? Got remarried, had a daughter, and now am living upstate in a tiny town. Donna is still in Smithtown, married. I don't know about anyone else except Bonnie King, who emailed me when she found this site. You still in NY?